Autograph letter from Voltaire to Johann Heinrich Samuel Formey, dating to 17 January 1753 [D5164]

Identifiers

CMV:

CMV36292

Repository:

Shelfmark:

L’Autographe Ltd, ‘LITERATURE – VOLTAIRE Franc_ois Marie Arouet dit (1694 – 1778) – Autograph letter’

Title:

Autograph letter from Voltaire to Johann Heinrich Samuel Formey, dating to 17 January 1753 [D5164]

Collection(s):

Link to Archive Catalogue:

Link to Digital Resource:

OCLC Number:

Reproductions:

Content

People:

Voltaire: Author
Johann Heinrich Samuel Formey: Recipient, Annotator

Incipit Diplomatic:

billets font conversation.

Incipit Modernised:

Billets font conversation.

Language(s):

In Own Hand:

Yes

Brief Summary:

Autograph letter from Voltaire to Johann Heinrich Samuel Formey, dated 17 January 1753.

Detailed Summary:

Voltaire opens by stating that tickets are a conversation, asking where Formey got this jeremiad. He adds that he told Formey that he spoke of Louis XIV in an improper manner and that he is wrong, noting that, as he told the King formerly that he was wrong to make a brochure, and wrong to make another. Voltaire then turns to Formey’s enemies, asking who would think of hurting him. He remarks on Formey’s criticism of himself, the King, and deists, adding that none of these would have wished him harm. He concludes by advising Formey to laugh it all off and not to grieve or cry because Madame de Montespan was kind, ending the letter by entreating Formey to be calm.

Genre(s):

Status:

Physical Description

Material(s):

Extent:

1 f.

Format:

Dimensions:

Hands:

2

Watermark:

Countermark:

Binding:

Unbound

Additional Comments:

There is an ink blot at the bottom of f.1r.

Materiality Keywords:

Decorations:

Undecorated

Additions:

The date has been added in Formey’s hand and reads: ‘du 17 janv: 53’.

Marginalia Keywords:

Inclusions:

History

Date:

[17 January 1753]

Ownership:

Owned by P. Langer.

Origin (transcript):

Origin:

Provenance:

Passed at the L’Autographe Ltd sale in London on 30 April 2024 (estimated price: £4,000-£5,000) and the International Autograph Auctions Europe S.L. ‘Autograph letters & manuscripts auction’ in Marbella, Spain on 25 September 2024 (Lot. 0924). Estimated price: €3,500 – €4,500 (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/185813452_voltaire-1694-1778).

Bibliography

Bibliography:

OCV Reference:

OCV Manuscript Reference: